114

MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.

15th Regiment Native Infantry.

HEAD-QUARTERS AND WING—STATION—MOULMEIN.

Arrived on the 5th February 1875 from Palaveram.

WING—STATION—PORT BLAIR, ANDAMANS.

     The following return shows the rates of sickness, deaths, and invaliding as
contrasted with previous years:—

     Surgeon J. P. McDermott was in medical charge of the head-quarters and
wing, and Surgeon J. C. Lawrenson was in charge of the detachment at the
Andamans, and the former reports as follows:—

Ventilation
and drainage
of the men's
barrack-
rooms, &c.

     Ventilation and drainage of the men's barrack-rooms, &c.- The means of ventilation are
sufficient and of the usual kind, and the drainage is excellent.

Nuisance.

     Nuisance.— Until lately each house in cantonment had in connexion with it a deep cess-pit
into which all human filth was thrown. This filth was allowed to accumulate for years, or until
the pit was completely filled; the pit was then usually cleaned out, or in some cases covered in,
and a new pit made. These cess-pits were most offensive, especially during the rains, and were
also dangerous to health from the fact of the wells containing the drinking water being quite
close in many cases. All these cess-pits have now been filled up with dry earth, and each house
in cantonment is supplied with an iron bucket into which all filth is thrown. This filth is
removed daily by sweepers and thrown into trenches made at the most distant end of the
cantonment and covered over with dry earth.

Water-supply

     Water-supply.— The water-supply during the year was of the usual kind.

Diet.

     Diet.- Most of the men buy some little extras in the bazaar. The men also received batta.
The supply and price of provisions have been somewhat similar to the previous year.

Duty.

     Duty.— The duty of the men was of the usual kind and in no way injurious to health,
except that the number of nights in bed was less than might be desired. Average number of
nights in bed three and a half.

Epidemic.

     Epidemic.— No epidemic occurred in cantonment during the year.

Ventilation of
hospital.

     Ventilation of hospital.— The ventilation of the hospital is excellent: there was no over-
crowding.

Drainage of
hospital.

     Drainage of hospital.— The drainage is good. The Engineer has received orders to
construct a new latrine, but it has not yet been commenced.

Water-supply.

     Water-supply.— The water-supply is good and sufficient.